Does spirometry treat chronic cough?

A chronic cough can have several possible contributors, including airway narrowing, irritation, reflux or mucus-related disease. Spirometry records how much air you can exhale and how quickly. A clinician may compare readings before and after an inhaled medicine. This can support assessment for conditions such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, but it does not identify every cause and it does not suppress the cough itself.

Your clinician may also ask about smoking, medicines, nasal symptoms, heartburn, sputum and triggers. The linked pages provide further information about chronic cough and spirometry.

Keep a brief record of when the cough occurs, what brings it on, whether you produce mucus and whether you notice wheeze or breathlessness. Bring your medicine list and follow instructions about inhalers before the test. Avoid changing prescribed treatment on your own. Once the likely cause is clearer, follow the targeted plan rather than using spirometry as a cough remedy.

Arrange medical review for a persistent cough that is changing, disturbing sleep or affecting daily activity. Seek urgent help for coughing up blood, severe breathlessness, chest pain, confusion, fainting or blue or grey lips. These features require prompt assessment regardless of whether spirometry has been arranged.

Which causes of my cough are you checking with spirometry? Should I alter any inhaler before testing? What other assessment will be considered if airflow is normal?